A bipartisan commission meets later this month in Carlsbad to screen candidates for a vacant district court judgeship.
The nominating commission will recommend candidates to Republican Gov. Susana Martinez for possible appointment to replace District Judge J. Richard Brown, who retired at the end of December.
There is a Jan. 22 deadline for lawyers to apply for the vacancy in the 5th Judicial District, which covers Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties.
The commission is scheduled to meet Jan. 29 at the Eddy County Courthouse in Carlsbad to consider applicants and make its recommendations to the governor.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.